Category: Crime & Corruption News

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has welcomed the arrest of seven suspects allegedly involved in the collapse of VBS mutual bank.

This comes after the Hawks on Wednesday arrested four suspects during a raid on 10 properties in Gauteng and Limpopo. A further three were expected to hand themselves over to investigators, while a warrant of arrest for the eighth suspect is yet to be effected, as he is in COVID-19 isolation.

The seven are today expected to appear before the Johannesburg High Court, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court.

The PIC was a significant shareholder in VBS [Venda Building Society] when it was placed under curatorship by the Prudential Authority of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

In a statement issued on Thursday, the PIC said it believes the arrests were an important step in ensuring that those who are responsible for the collapse of VBS are held accountable.

“The PIC has been fully cooperating with investigations by law enforcement agencies following the release of Adv. Terry Motau SC’s forensic report into the collapse of VBS. The PIC will continue to cooperate with these agencies until the VBS matter is finally settled,” the PIC said.

The bank was placed under curatorship in March 2018 after it experienced liquidity challenges over 18 months. Problems included a failure of the board of directors and executive management to manage the bank’s rapid growth funding and its liquidity.

North West Premier Job Mokgoro on Wednesday thanked the police for arresting two suspects linked to school burglaries in the province.

During the arrest, police recovered various items stolen during the burglaries in Sunrise Park in Rustenburg on Monday night.

The police reported that they arrested a 32-year-old Mozambican national who is suspected to be illegally in the country and recovered a projector as well as six cellphones from him.

Premier Mogoro further thanked the police for the arrest of a second suspect in the same area who was also found in possession of a projector and 12 cellphones inside his bakkie which was also seized by the police.

The police also recovered a notebook laptop in Modderspruit near Brits.

Premier Mokgoro also thanked the SAPS North West Provincial Commissioner, Lt. Gen Sello Kwena and members of the SAPS for the arrests and further urged the community to provide any information that may lead to the arrest of more suspects to the police.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has pounced on eight suspects allegedly behind the plundering and collapse of the Venda Building Society (VBS) Mutual Bank.

Four suspects were arrested when the Hawks descended on 10 properties in Gauteng and Limpopo on Wednesday morning. While the further three are expected to hand themselves over to the investigators, the warrant of arrest on the eighth suspect is yet to be effected, as he is in COVID-19 isolation.

The seven are expected to appear before the Johannesburg High Court, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court.

The arrests are a culmination of a two-year marathon investigation. The bank was placed under curatorship in March 2018 after it experienced liquidity challenges over 18 months. Problems included a failure of the board of directors and executive management to manage the bank’s rapid growth funding and its liquidity.

Advocate Terry Motau, in his investigative report titled ‘The Great Bank Heist’, uncovered massive fraud amounting to R1.9 billion, which was looted from the bank.

Addressing the media on the development, National Hawks head, Advocate Godfrey Lebeya, and the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Shamila Batohi, said more arrests are expected to be made, as investigations unfold. Lebeya said the eight face 47 ranging criminal counts.

“These are five counts of Patterns of Racketeering Activities, in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, POCA; 12 counts of theft; seven counts of fraud; 15 counts of corruption, in contravention of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, and seven counts of money laundering [POCA],” he said.

The Hawks began investigating the case in 2018 after the South African Reserve Bank, through the Chief Executive Officer of the Prudential Authority, reported a criminal case.

“The complainant in this case formed an opinion in his then capacity as the Registrar, that VBS Mutual Bank was in financial difficulties and as such, would be unable to repay deposits made with VBS when legally obliged to do so,” said Lebeya.

On 13 November 2018, upon the application of the Prudential Authority, VBS was put under compulsory winding up by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria. A provisional liquidator was appointed on 14 November 2018.

Lebeya said an investigation revealed that as at 11 March 2018, there was a general deficiency in the monies received by VBS amounting to R2.2 billion.

Uncovering a scam

The scam, he said, was hatched on 4 July 2017 when the board of directors for VBS approved financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2017, making VBS to look richer while it was in fact insolvent.

“The financial statements were shockingly inflated,” he said.

It is also alleged that the bank’s chairman and CEO signed the directors’ responsibility statement to the Annual Financial Statement that was prepared by its Chief Financial Officer.

Lebeya said the Hawks’ investigation has revealed that the 10 men, who are the suspects, either unduly directly or indirectly benefitted from at least R122 million that was not due to them.

He commended the investigation team, which comprised the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Financial Intelligence Centre and the Liquidator, for their key roles in the investigation.

Batohi said the arrests mark a mammoth step in the progression of the case.

“This gives assurance that the team is hard at work and has been since this matter commenced in August 2018.

“It gives assurance that indeed, the relevant authorities are making headway in key cases. While today’s developments are an important milestone, we all know that a lot of work still lies ahead.”

She said while it is imperative the matters are expeditiously concluded, the team has to be meticulous in probing each detail of evidence.

“We have to do this to ensure that justice does prevail and the rule of law prevails as well. We owe it to the investors of the bank, in particular, the elderly men and women of Limpopo and beyond, who lost their hard earned money and lifetime savings. We have an obligation to all South Africans to deliver justice in this matter, as they have in many ways been victimised by this crime,” Batohi said.

Gauteng police have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the murder of Soweto mother-to-be, Tshegofatso Pule.

The 28-year-old had been missing for four days when her body, covered in stab wounds, was found on Monday last week, hanging from a tree in a veld in Roodepoort. Pule was laid to rest last week in Soweto.

In a statement on Wednesday, the police said the suspect was arrested on Monday following a crime intelligence operation. He was reportedly arrested while travelling from Mpumalanga.

Gauteng Police spokesperson Noxolo Kweza said the suspect would appear before the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court today.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, applauded the detectives for their swift response in the investigation into the death of the pregnant woman. As the investigations are still continuing, he appealed to communities for any further information that could lead to more arrests.

This arrest came swiftly after another suspect, a 50-year-old man, was nabbed in Eldorado Park on Monday in connection with the murder of a 42-year-old woman in Eersterust at the weekend.

The team of detectives, crime prevention and Tshwane district task team followed information to where the suspect was hiding.

“Gauteng police not only arrested the suspect in the Pule killing, but have also arrested suspects in connection with the attack that occurred at Jabulani hostel last week,” said Kweza.

Meanwhile, in another case, a multi-disciplinary team of detectives arrested two suspects in KwaZulu-Natal and recovered two firearms, including an AK47. The suspects led police to a further five suspects in Gauteng. The suspects in Gauteng were found with a further five firearms.

Mawela has applauded the team for their prompt response in the matter.

Some of the suspects have been linked to other cases, including murder.

People with information on criminal activity can call the SAPS emergency number, 10111, before a crime is committed or when a crime is in progress.

Callers that want to remain anonymous may contact SAPS Crime Stop on ‪08600 10111 or send a tip-off via MySAPS App, which can be downloaded on any android or iPhone. All information received will be treated with confidentiality.

South Africa is under siege, with the number of women dying in the hands of men increasing since the easing of lockdown regulations under level 3, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted.

The President has since called for South Africans to end the culture of silence and report perpetrators to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The country is still in shock after the gruesome murder of Tshegofatso Pule, whose stabbed body was found hanging on a tree in Durban Deep, Roodepoort — less than a month she was due to give birth.

Several other cases where women were either raped or brutally murdered have been hogging the headlines.

“It is a dark and shameful week for us as a nation. Criminals have descended to even greater depths of cruelty and callousness. It simply cannot continue.

“We note with disgust that at a time when the country is facing the gravest of threats from the pandemic, violent men are taking advantage of the eased restrictions on movement to attack women and children,” the President said.

In a statement, President Ramaphosa said he was struggling to come to terms with the violence inflicted on Pule, Naledi Phangindawo, Nompumelelo Tshaka and other women in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, whose bodies were found dumped in previous weeks.

The First Citizen has also bemoaned the level of barbarism and lack of humanity in the manner in which these defenceless women have killed.

“Tshegofatso Pule, who was eight months pregnant, was found stabbed to death and hanging from a tree in an open veld. It is also suspected one of the murdered Eastern Cape women was a victim of a mob killing.”

The Presidency mentioned another case of an elderly woman who was raped and a child found dead in a field, and two young women shot dead in KwaZulu-Natal.

“According to the SAPS, there has been an increase in violent crime, especially murders since we entered alert level 3. We need to understand what factors are fuelling this terrible trend and, as society as a whole, address them urgently,” the President said.

The President said he will be deploying Ministers and Deputy Ministers to meet with community leaders in all districts around the country as part of national efforts to combat COVID-19.

However, the leaders will also engage communities on this upsurge in GVB and look at ways to prevent the killing of women.

President Ramaphosa is also concerned that SA has one of the highest levels of intimate partner violence in the world and that about 51% of South African women have experienced violence at the hands of someone with whom they are in a relationship.

“In far too many cases of gender-based violence, the perpetrators are known to the victim, but they are also known to our communities. That is why we say this is a societal matter and not a matter of law enforcement alone.

“Gender-based violence thrives in a climate of silence. With our silence, by looking the other way because we believe it is a personal or family matter, we become complicit in this most insidious of crimes,” President Ramaphosa stressed.

President Ramaphosa calls on criminal justice to do better

Citing the case of 36-year-old Sibongiseni Gabada from Khayelitsha, who was found murdered last month, the President said survivors of GBV believe the criminal justice is failing them.

Despite Gabada’s boyfriend allegedly confessing to the murder, the case against him was dropped, reportedly due to lack of evidence.

“For public faith in the criminal justice system to be maintained, gender-based violence needs to be treated with the urgency it deserves by our communities working together with our police.

“I urge the SAPS to act swiftly to track down whoever was involved in these murders and ensure there is justice for the murdered women and children. I also urge our communities to end the culture of silence and speak up. In doing so, you will be saving lives,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President has urged communities to work with the police and report any tip-offs they may have to the Crime Stop Hotline on 08600 10111 or send an anonymous SMS to Crime Line at 32211, or to call the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre at 0800 428 428.

The Commission of Inquiry into Taxi Violence in Gauteng has been granted an extension of six months until August 2020.

The commission is set to finalise its report in September 2020.

The commission was set up following Proclamation 101 of 2019 to investigate the underlying reasons for the recurring conflict, violence, fatalities and instabilities in the taxi industry in Gauteng.

“Under the current level 3 of COVID-19 Regulations, the commission will proceed with its hearings during the week of 15 June 2020 and a detailed schedule will be published to inform the public on which days and at what times hearings will take place,” the commission said.

The hearing venue is fully compliant to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus, with social distancing and sanitisation being strictly observed.

The commission has called on any person or section of the public, including community structures, members of relevant communities and of the public, minibus taxi-type service associations, drivers, operators, conductors and rank marshals to contact the commission should they wish to give evidence.

Witnesses requiring assistance with the drafting of relevant legal documents will be assisted free of charge.

All potential witnesses are encouraged to contact the Commission Secretary on 066 390 0303.

National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has called on the public, families and communities to report suspected cases of domestic violence.

Sitole made the call amid a deluge of media reports of fatal gender-based violence cases across South Africa last week.

“We are urging people to alert the police of such cases before it’s too late to help a victim of such cases,” he said, adding that friends, families and neighbours are often aware of cases or potential cases of domestic violence.

However, Sitole applauded what he described as sterling detective work that led to suspects traced and arrested in most of the cases.

“In the case of the killing of 45-year-old Nompumelelo Tshaka, her alleged murderer, Ayanda Zenani was arrested. Tshaka’s body was found dumped in an open field in Mthatha by a passer-by on 5 June 2020. Zenani has since appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 11 June. He will be appearing in the same court again on 18 June 2020 for a formal bail application,” read the statement.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Msunduze Reserve, a 52-year-old Bhekukwanda Cele has appeared in the Ndwedwe Magistrates Court, charged with the alleged murder of his estranged wife, 31-year-old Nwabisa Mgwandela. It is alleged that three men assaulted and tied her up with a rope, leaving her hanging in the house on 7 June 2020.

Recently in Gauteng, 28-year-old Tshegofatso Pule was killed. Her body was found in the bushes on 5 June 2020. Her family reported her missing on 7 June 2020, and it was identified the following day. The police are following leads to apprehend and bring her killer to book. Pule was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.

In the Western Cape, the 34-year-old ex-boyfriend of slain 25-year-old Naledi Phangindawo has appeared in court in Mossel Bay for her murder. She was killed in KwaNonqaba a week ago and the suspect fled to Lwandle in Strand but later handed himself over to the police. The suspect remains in custody until his next court appearance.

In another incident in the Western Cape, last month a suspect was arrested for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, 34-year-old Nomfazi Gabada. The suspect, Sithembele Klaas, was initially arrested earlier this month but the case was withdrawn. The investigating officer persevered in this matter and obtained a warrant for the arrest of Klaas. He was then traced and rearrested on Saturday. Klaas will be brought before a Magistrate at the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court today.

Police in the statement said in all the cases where suspects have been arrested, the victim was in a relationship with the suspect.

“It is these circumstances that makes the prevention of crimes against women and children that much more complex,” read the statement.

Sitole in the statement reassured the public that crimes against vulnerable people will not go unpunished.

“The Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit is extremely obstinate in its cause to bringing perpetrators of crimes against women, children and people of vulnerable groups to book.

“Crimes against women, children and all other vulnerable groups continue to remain a priority of the South African Police Service.”

SAPS is making a clarion call to family, friends and neighbours, who often are aware of cases or potential cases of domestic violence.

“We are urging people to alert the police of such cases before it’s too late to help a victim of such cases.”

People with information can call the SAPS Emergency Number, 10111, before a crime is committed or when a crime is in progress.

Callers that want to remain anonymous may contact SAPS Crime Stop Number ‪08600 10111 or send a tip-off via MySAPSApp, which can be downloaded on any android or iPhone. All information received will be treated with confidentiality.

Other contact details:

GBV Command Centre -‪ 0800 428 428

Childline Toll Free – ‪0800 055 555

Human Trafficking Hotline – ‪0800 222 777.

The lifting of the ban on the sale of alcohol since the beginning of lockdown level 3 in June has ushered an unwanted surge in reported deaths after a lull between March and May.

This was revealed by Police Minister Bheki Cele during a press briefing at the Jabulani Hostel in Soweto on Tuesday.

The Minister was in the area after six men were shot and killed on Monday evening. Police are now searching for three men believed to be linked to the crime.

During the briefing, Cele spoke about two women who were this week brutally murdered in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Naledi Phangindawo, 25, was allegedly heinously hacked to death by a man close to her. The suspect has since been arrested. In Soweto, Tshegofatso Pule, 28, was on Monday found hanging from a tree in Roodepoort where she went missing on Thursday.

“Nationally we’d sit back and complain about 30 people that have died,” said the Minister.

This was until last Monday, when the ban on alcohol during the lockdown was lifted.

“Until Monday – the 1st of June – which is not an entirely dangerous day, for the first time since the lockdown, we got reports of 40 people killed. The next day there were 51 [murders] and there were 69 this past Sunday,” he said.

During this period police were averaging between 20 and 30 murder cases a day.

“That has now just gone up, including attempting murder, including the abuse of women and violence against women,” he said.

The Minister described the murder of the two women as brutal.

“It’s an issue that we raise as police and law enforce that [perpetrators] of crime are well known to the victims. By the look of things, both these ladies were killed by people known to them. I’m not confirming that, the investigations are ongoing,” he said.

He emphasised that it was difficult for law enforcement to curb domestic violence.

This, he said, was because police could not monitor people’s behavior in their homes.

“Unfortunately, in those situations, we react. But it’s a question, we agree, we need to take up. We [need] to work very closely with all other structures and monitor closely gender-based violence, as [cases] can be brutal as we have seen with the two ladies,” Cele said.

He pleaded with men, communities and families to report suspiciously abusive relationships. He said this would ensure the police were proactive in responding in their action.

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza, on Monday condemned the circulation of a child pornography video that has been circulating on social media.

This as a 30-second video, which depicts three children engaged in a sexual act, has been widely shared in various social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp.

“We are really taken aback by this abhorrent conduct. The circulation of the video of this nature is bound to affect the lives of the children in the video. It is even more sickening that adults are behind the circulation of the video, as these are people on whom we rely to stem the tide of social ills bedevilling our country,” said Khoza.

The video’s circulation comes as South Africa recently marked Child Protection Week, which concluded on Sunday, 7 June.

Led by the Department of Social Development, Child Protection Week is commemorated annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).

The MEC made a clarion call to communities to stop the circulation of the video, as this would ensure that not many children are exposed to it.

She also implored parents to play an active role in their children’s lives by ensuring that they monitor the content children access on the internet and on social media.

“This horrifying video of three children engaged in sexual activity should remind parents to have access to the gadgets used by the children. Parents should not let children out of their sight to avoid such issues. It is our responsibility to protect and teach our children about what needs to be done in life,” Khoza said.

She further called on communities to report anyone distributing the video to the police.

Khoza warned that sharing child pornography is prohibited by law, and anyone found guilty of such could face jail time.

“The laws prohibit the showing of pornography to children, using children in child pornography, compelling children to witness sexual acts, and indecent exposure to children. Anyone found to be a source of the video should face prosecution.

“Everyone should be involved in fighting sexual violence and vicious attacks directed at children. This video has sent shockwaves to all of us and has raised concerns about the safety of our children. As we wrap up Child Protection Week, such a video should remind us of our responsibility as parents,” said the MEC.

Khoza has also called upon members of the community to help the department identify the children on the video so they can offer them psycho-social support.

She has further ordered the Child Unit within the department to work closely with the law enforcement agencies to deal with the matter.

In an effort to weed out corruption in its ranks, the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Wednesday nabbed eight of its own in a pre-dawn operation across the country.

The eight are among the 14 arrested by an Anti-Corruption Task Team during the operation. Among the arrested are senior police officers and six company owners and directors.

In a statement, Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo said among the arrested senior officers was a former SAPS Lieutenant General.

“[They were arrested] on warrants of arrest issued on multiple charges, including fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering,” he said.

The Special Anti-Corruption Task Team, led by Brigadier Tony Perumal, was set up by Police Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole, following serious allegations of corruption and related crimes, which date back to 2017.

“This team and its investigations have been supported by a prosecution team from the Investigative Directorate within the National Prosecuting Authority, under the leadership of Advocate Hermione Cronje,” said Naidoo.

Since 2017, this task team has been conducting a widespread intensive investigation into tender fraud related to the marking of police vehicles. During these investigations, nine members of the SAPS, including senior officers, private company directors and employees are alleged to have been involved in an elaborate act to defraud the State.

Among those arrest are:

Retired Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, 60 years old, (Former Divisional Commissioner: Supply Chain Management, Pretoria Head Office), arrested in Rethabile;

– Brigadier James Ramanjalum, 55, (Former Section Head Procurement) arrested in Rooihuiskraal;

– Brigadier Jabez Naidoo, 49, (Station Commander: Point Police Station, KZN and Former SCM Head, Western Cape) arrested in Durban;

– Brigadier Lesetja David Mogotlane, 57, (Section Head: Mechanical Services) arrested in Soshanguwe;

– Colonel Thomas Dumisani Marima, 50, (Section Commander: Vehicles and Tactical Equipment);

– Lieutenant Colonel Veeran Naipal, 47, (Vehicle Support: Pretoria Central Garage);

– Lieutenant Colonel Alpheus Nkosibanke Makhetha, 46, (Technical Expert: Vehicle Fleet);

– Admin Clerk Jacoba Magadela Havenga, 49, (Chief Prov Clerk: New Vehicle Store, WC);

– SAC Marcell Duan Marney,33, (Chief Provisioning Clerk to Brigadier Ramanjalum);

– Krishna Chetty, 62, arrested in Centurion;

– Kishene Chetty, 38, arrested in Centurion;

– Lorrette Joubert, 44, (Owner of Vatika Trading), arrested in Mountain View, Pretoria;

– Maricha Joubert, 24, arrested in Mountain View, Pretoria;

– Kumarasen Prithviraj (owner of Kgotho) arrested in Mountain View, Pretoria, and

– Volan Prithviraj (son of Kumarasen) arrested in Pretoria.

The pending arrest of a Lieutenant Colonel will bring the total to 10 the number of police officers arrested, said Naidoo.

Sitole praised the task team for the zest and determination they showed in the pursuance of this investigation.

“I have been kept abreast of this extensive and very complicated investigation since its inception.

“I am confident that the cases against the arrested suspects are water-tight,” said Sitole.

The suspects are expected to appear in court/s yet to be determined either today or tomorrow.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of more arrests being effected in this matter,” said Sitole, adding that corruption within SAPS will neither be condoned nor tolerated.